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Where to Flash or Get Flashed on Fat Tuesday

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so every week our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

If you’re not as drunk as this guy, then you’re just not trying hard enough

As the good Catholic girl I am… or was raised to be (sorry mom)… I feel an obligation to inform those of you whom are unaware that Carnival is the traditional celebration before Lent. A brief window of time where excess and ecstasy are allowed to take center stage before yielding to a period of self-induced sacrifice, spiritual reflection, and …and wait, I’m writing for Midtown Lunch, screw that.

Ok you filthy philistines here’s what you need to know so listen up!

It’s Mardi Gras time. Fat Tuesday will soon be upon us, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost demand that you party hard enough that the hangover lasts until sometime in April. I know it’s rough, but don’t blame me, I’m only a humble messenger. The following are some establishments that have endeavored to help you in this divine mission.

Bourbon Street
346 W. 46th St. (btw. 8th & 9th Ave.)
Fat Tuesday at one of Zach’s favorite bars will offer $5 hurricanes, strawberry daiquiris, 2 for 1 Abita beers. They will be serving “endless jambalaya bowls” and an unlimited buffet for $25. There is no cover charge. The celebration continues on Wednesday with “Cajun Foodie Day” featuring $5 cajun inspired specialties. These are small plates, but they focus on traditional New Orleans cookin’ and yes, they have some gator on the menu.

Delta Grill
700 9th Ave at West 48th St.
Delta Grill will have music by the Citigrass Band. $20 admission includes a buffet of crawfish boil, jambalaya, chicken creole and red beans and rice. Doors open at 5pm.

Rodeo Bar
375 Third Ave. at 27th St.
Rodeo already has some great happy hour specials with free appetizers. For Fat Tuesday they are adding hurricane specials, plus menu items like fried gator and jambalaya. Rodeo is a great venue for live music all year round and Tuesday Bill Simms, Jr will perform.

Social
795 Eighth Ave. (btw. 48th/49th St.)
Socials weekend long party starts tonight with $4 “Jolly Rancher” shots (that does not sound good to me either,) but $6 Hurricanes and $3.50 Bud and Coors might be a decent alternative.

Mercury Bar
493 Third Ave. (btw. 33rd/34th St.)
I like the feel of Mercury. It has lounge seating, a huge bar, and on this Tuesday $4 Coronas and margaritas will help you forget away the work day. They’re also having a Bacardi Gold Promotion starting at 8pm with a cash prize for best mask.

McFadden’s Saloon
800 Second Ave. at 42nd St.
McFadden’s is having a Saturday Mardi Gras party with a $500 prize for most beads on hot babes. However, the real deal is on Tuesday with $1 drafts all night starting at 6pm!

Overlook
225 E. 44th St. (btw. 2nd/3rd Ave.)
The weather should be brighter on Fat Tuesday so Overlooks roof deck might be a great spot to enjoy a brew. Abita will be on tap, they’ll be handing out beads, and more importantly, if you’re a basketball fan they’ll be playing the Big East game –get your March Madness on!

Galway Hooker Pub
7 E. 36th St. (btw. 5th/Madison Ave.)
The Hooker is always busy and starting tonight through the weekend and on Fat Tuesday they’ll be giving away prizes and beads. Happy hour starts early at 3pm with $4 beers, house wine and well drinks. There will be the usual Mardi Gras inspired drink specials.

Of course there’s always those places to grab a good po boy or some oysters. Tracks Raw Bar & Grill in Penn Station, the Grand Central Oyster Bar, and Two Boots to name few. Let us know where your favorite bar for Fat Tuesday will be in the comments.